Piston and ring construction



" c. E. HASTINGS- PISTON ND Rm; CONSTRUCTION 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 r r Filed May 5, 1944 6 J z a lflaazz'vy; INVENTOR! Dec. 11, 1945.

c. E. HASTINGS PISTON AND R-ING CONSTRUCTION Filed May 6, 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 1 3 il ll/l/lfl as 2 w INVENTZL ATTD R N EYS Patented Dec. 11, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFF-ICE PISTON AND amc CONSTRUCTION r Charles Emerson Hastings, Riddle, Idaho plication May 6,1944, Serial No. 534,432

' (c1. roe-14) 8 Claims.

My present invention, in its broad aspect,- has to do with improvements in ring construction for use withany type of piston, and by that I mean my particular invention is not limited to use with any particular form of piston, or piston and cylinder assembly, but may be used in any'such construction where leakage is to be prevented, where adequate lubrication of parts is desired, where itis proposed to reduce wear, and where it is necessary to retard or eliminate the formation and accumulation of foreign deleterious matter, such as carbon or the like.

My present ring construction is characterized by the provision of mutually cooperating parts which, when assembled, reduce leakage, reduce wear of a piston and the cylinder walls, exert a sustained, uniform and desirable tension outwardly from the piston against the cylinder walls; and provide a knife edge at the top andbottom to, scavenge the cylinder walls. Broadly defined, my ring contemplates a body part having secondary interfitting elementsall cooperating in a unitary assembly to accomplish the above and other ends.

Other and equally important objects and adthe beveled inner rings against the body of my rings and thence expanding both to insure proper contact against a cylinder wall;

Figure 2 is a side elevation similar to Figure 1 showing a modified form where an annular boss or rib fits into a groove or channel in the piston head;

Figure 3 is a side elevation similar to Figure 1, and shows, among other things, a multiple ring body construction with venting channels;

Figure 4 is a side elevation similar to Figure 1 showing a further modification;

Figure 5 is a side elevation similar to Figure 1 showing a two part sealing ring construction;

Figure 6 is a side elevation similar to Figure 1 showing a modified form along the lines of the form shown in Figure 5;

Figure '7 is a side elevation similar to Figure 1 showing a multiple ring body construction;

Figure 8 is a side elevation similar to Figure 1 showing a multiple sealing ring construction having knife edges registering;

Figure 9 is a fragmentary perspective detail view of a form of my invention as shown applied tc a trunk-type piston in Figure 1;

-to a trunk-type piston in Figure 2;

Figure 11 is a fragmentary perspective detail view of a form of my invention as shown applied to a trunk-type piston in Figure 3;

down, is not complicated, and which is sturdy and practical fOIptlE-lfipurposes for which it isv intended.

.invention and some modified forms ofmy invention are shown applied, and in which:

Figure 11 is a side elevation partly broken away of a trunk-type piston in which the beveled inner rings form knife edges top and bottom with expansion spring rings foreach, forcing Figure 12 is a fragmentary perspective detail view of a form of my invention shown as applied to a trunk-type piston in Figure 4;

Figure 13 is a fragmentary perspective detail view of a form of my invention as shown applied The letter A illustrates a common type of trunk piston having a head B and a skirt C. It is tobe understood that my present invention is not limited to any particular type of piston or piston and cylinder assembly, and that the conventional showing of a piston herein is only for purposes of illustration and to impart a clear understanding of the construction and operation of my invention.

Since my ring construction per se constitutes the gist of 'my invention, I shall introduce the description by referring first to Figures 9, 10,

-X. This ring may have an internal, annular boss or rib 4see Figure 10--which fits into a groove or recess in the body of any piston to which my ring is applied. Sealing rings 5, are assembled with the 'main outer ring and have knife edges 6 flared outwardly to be disposed back of, and tight against, and in registry with the knife edges 3 and have other parts cooperating with ring I which will be hereafter described. An inherently split expansible ring I is provided with each sealing ring and serves to urge the sealingrings against the outer ring, and the outer ring against the cylinder wall. There may be more than one outer ring-as in Figure 11. There may be more than two expansible or spring rings 1 as shown in Figures 11 and 12, .and there may be variations in arrangement of the sealing rings and the like, but the broad inventive concept in any case is the same; namely, to provide an outer wearing surface as furnished by the form of outer ring; to provide the knife edges; to provide a sealing 7 ring with knife edges; to provide an expansion means; and by these parts in modification, association, form, arrangement and shape to reduce wear, maintain proper pressure against a cylinder wall, reduce leakage, provide lubrication, and

prevent formation and accumulation of deleterious extraneous or foreign matter, such, for instance, as carbon.

Referring particularly to Figures 1 and 9: I provide the body part or outer ring I with internal beveled edges 2 forming knife edges 3 top and bottom as previously described. This is, of course, a split ring construction and is much a wider than the conventional piston ring, and has a thickened part 8 ad acent both the top and bottom edges, each of which is formed with an annular groove 9.

An annular rib I is provided on a sealing ring there being one ring at the top of the ring I and another at the bottom. The ribs l0 seat in the grooves 9see Figures 1 and 9'-- and each sealing ring 5 has an outwardly flared knife edge 6 which lies back of and against and in registry with the cooperating knife edge of the outer ring. Pressing against and seated inside the boss of each sealing ring 5 is an inherently expansible. or spring expansion ring I which functions to force the seating ring against the outer ring I with the knife edges together, and by the same token to force the outer ring into tight and proper contact and engagement with a cylinder wall. To accommodate the ring assembly, as above described, a piston (such as is shown in Figure 1) is formed with a thickened head as at D which is provided with an exterior formation of cooperating recesses and grooves receiving and supporting the ring assembly. so thatthe assembly conforms to the normal cylindrlcal pattern of the piston. The piston wall is grooved as at 30 beneath the lower knife edge to assist the functioning of such edge in scavenging the cylinder walls.

As shown in Figures 2 and 10, the inner wall l2 of the outer ring I may be slightly crowned, and at the crown an'annular rib or boss 4 is provided which is received in a channel or groove in the piston body. The outer surface of the outer ring, I has spaced annular grooves l3, and in both forms-that-is, those shown in Figures 1 and 9 and 2 and vents l4 are provided in the piston wall leading to groove E and it will be noted that the upper knife edge extends above the crown of the piston head. Since the outer ring, the sealing rings and spring rings are split, the split joints are preferably staggered in the assembly and the interfitting relationship of the parts aifords an effective seal.

In Figures 3 and 11,-the'body part or outer ring is characterized by upper and lower section la and lb respectively each of which has knife edges, but it will be noted that the upper knife edge of the lower section lb and the lower knife edge of upper section la are not backed-up or associated with sealing rings 5 of which there are ,two as in the previously described forms. However, in this form, the piston is also provided with intermediate oil drains or channels l2? between sections la and lb.

In Figures 4 and 12, the ring construction is in upper and lower sections designated respectively l6 and l! with a lap-joint l8 connecting the two and a lower knife edge construction 2a., Three inherently expansible rings or expansion rings 1 are used in this form, onefor upper section l6 and two for lower section ll--one of which is mounted beneath the knife edge 2a.

In the form of my invention shown applied to a trunk piston in Figure 5, there are upper and lower sections la and Id' each having beveled knife edges 2b; the'sections are provided with opposed L-shaped flanges l8 meeting to form a channel IS in which is seated an expansion ring I. Associated with the lower beveled edge 2b of lower section vId is a sealing ring 5, and back of the upper ring section I0 is a secondary ring section formed with superposed interlocking parts 20 and M; the uppermost of which has a grooveengaging the annular rib 22 of upper ring section la, and the undermost of which has an annular rib 23 engaging in a groove in part. 20. An expansion ring 1 is provided beneath undermost part 2!. In Figure 6 a construction in some respects similar to that of Figure 5 is shown, but in this form the skirt Got the piston A is beveled and carries an extended ring section le having a knife edge 20 and an expansion ring I is mounted in channel l9 formed by the cooperating L-shaped'flange it of the ring lb. Ring section le extends the entire length of the skirt C; saidskirt C being reduced to receive the ring section. The superposed interlocking parts 20 and 2| of this form are the same as in Figure 5.

In Figures '7 and 14, there is shown a modification wherein the outer ring is formed with sections lo and In with an L-shaped flange forma- 0 tion 18a providing a channel I90. to receive an expansion rin I. Knife edge sealing rings 5 are provided which are similar in construction to those shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3, and 9, 10 and 11'. t

In Figures 8 and 13 a still further modification is shown in which the outer ring l has a relatively deep rib 24, and grooves 25 adjacent the rib 24 in which are respectively fitted the ribs 26 of sealing rings 5. There is a supplemental sealing ring 5a beneath the upper ring 5 so that in effect the knife edge formation at the top of the piston is attained by registration and cooperation of the knife edges of outer ring ly; the upper sealing ring 5, and the sealing ring 5a. sealing ring 5a has a groove in which is fitted a rib 21 on upper sealing ring and; an expansion ring I is mounted beneath ring 5a and another beneath lower ring 5.

It will be noted that a thin metal insert or filler 28 may be provided to serve as a joint packing in all forms of my invention if desired, an example of which is shown in'Figure 1. I

' While it is believed that the operation and construction, and method of assembling the several parts of my invention will be apparent from the foregoing, it is pointed out that my invention is essentially an improvement in ring assemblies to be used with any type of piston or piston and cylinder organization. It is further pointed out that my broad concept calls for a multiple part ring assembly in which an outer or main ring I has knife edges, and upon and beneath which -are other, or secondary parts, including the easy and inexpensive to install, requires a minimum of modification of ordinary piston construction, and is sturdy and eflicient in operation. It is pointed out, however, that interpretation of my invention and its scope should only be conclusive when made in the light of the subjoined claims, and that changes in form, size, shape and arrangement of parts may be made 1vglthout departing from the spirit of my inven- I claim: 1. A piston ring construction, comprising an outer ring means formed with beveled parts providing knife edges adjacent the walls of a cylinder, said outer ring mounted on a piston, a sealing means between the outer ring means and the I piston and interengaglng with the outer ring means to be carried thereby, said sealing means having beveled parts forming knife edges cooperating with those of the ring means, and inherently expansible means associated with the sealing means and exerting expansible action, both 1vg'ilfh respect to the sealing means and the outer 2. A piston ring construction, comprising relatively wide outer ring means formed with internally beveled parts providing knife edges adjacent the walls of a cylinder, said outer ring mounted on a piston to shield the same, annular sealing means between the outer ring means and the piston and interengaging with the outer ring means to be carried thereby, said sealing means having internally beveled parts flared outwardly to form knife edges engaging, registering with and cooperating with the knife edges of the ring means, and inherently expansible means associated with the sealing means and exerting expansible action both with respect to the sealing 'means and theouter ring.

3. A multiple part piston ring construction, the respective parts of which are formed to interengage to be assembled and cooperate as a unit, and comprising an outer part and an inner part, the outer part contacting the'cylinder wall, a sealing element between the outer part and the inner part, and the inner part being inherently expansible and engaging the sealing element and the piston.

4. A multiple part piston ring construction, the respective parts of which are formed to interengage to be assembled and cooperate as a unit, and comprising outer, relatively wide ring means formed with knife edges, inner inherently expansible means, and sealing means formed with knife edges engaging and cooperating with the knife edges of the outer ring means, and located between the inner expansible means and the outer ring means to be acted upon by the expansible means to be pressed against the outer ring means.

5. A multiple part piston ring construction, the v respective parts of which areformed to interengage to be assembled and to cooperate as a unit, comprising outer relatively wide ring means mounted on a piston to shield the same, edges of said ring means being internally beveled to form knife edges, inherently expansible ring means, sealing means engaged by the expansible ring means, and located between the expansible ring means and the outer ring means, and having internally beveled and outwardly flared edge pertions forming knife edges engaging, registering with, and cooperating with the knife edges of the ring part.

6. A piston ring construction comprising a plurality of relatively interfitting parts functioning as a unit and including relatively wide ring means with knife edges, sealing means with knife edges cooperating with the first mentioned knife edges, and expanding means for forcing the sealing means against the ring means, and the ring means against a cylinder wall.

, 7. A piston ring construction, comprising a plurality of relatively interfitting parts functioning as a unit, and including an outer annular element, an inner annular element and an intermediate annular element between the outer element and the inner element, and each interengaged to be carried by the other, the innermost element being inherently expansible to force the other elements into closecontact with each other, and both the outer and intermediate elements having cooperating knife edges, in combination with a piston formedto' receive and support such elements.

8. A- piston ring construction, comprising a plurality of separable, relatively interfitting parts functioning in assembly as a unit, and including relatively wide outer ring means having knife edges, sealing means beneath and interengaged with the outer means, there 'beingribs and receiving grooves for that purpose, said. sealing means having knife ,"edges bearing against,

knife edges, and other means forming vents, and

said cooperating, interfltting parts having means for sealing the same against passage of liquid between or around them. CHARLES EMERSON HAS'I'INGS. 

